Yeddyurappa gets anticipatory bail in Upper Bhadra case

Bangalore: Karnataka High Court today granted anticipatory bail to former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in a case filed against him for alleged irregularities in awarding an irrigation contract to a private firm.

Allowing the bail plea of Yeddyurappa, Justice B S Billappa ordered him to furnish a personal bond for Rs one lakh, appear before the jurisdictional court within 10 days and cooperate with the investigations.

The Court also ordered him not to leave the country without its prior permission and not to tamper with the prosecution evidence.

The Lokayukta Court last month had issued summons to Yeddyurappa on a private complaint filed by JDS leader Y S V Datta alleging irregularities and kickbacks in awarding the contract to RNS Jyothi Infrastructure company for an irrigation project in Upper Bhadra during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Dutta had alleged that the project was awarded to the company, the highest bidder, at Rs 1,033 crore, contrary to the norm of awarding it to the lowest bidder.

In turn, the company transferred 13 crore to Dhavalagiri Developers and Sahyadri Healthcare, owned by Yeddyurappa’s sons and son-in-law, he alleged.

Earlier Ravi B Naik, counsel for Yeddyurppa submitted that there were no irregularities in awarding the contract to the company and presented copies of all the documents relating to the matter.